Level indicator for telescopic sights

ABSTRACT

A level indicator for a telescopic sight can comprise a lower clamp member including a first end defining a threaded aperture and a second end defining a cylindrical head, and an upper clamp member including a first end defining an access hole and a second end defining a socket in which the cylindrical head is receivable. The upper clamp member is rotatable about the cylindrical head to form between the respective first ends of the clamp members a gap through which the telescopic sight is receivable into a space defined between the upper and lower clamp members. A level housing in which a level is received can extend from either clamp member. A single threaded fastener is receivable in the threaded aperture through the access hole to secure the upper clamp member to the lower clamp member around the telescopic sight.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.29/738,579, filed Jun. 18, 2020 and titled “LEVEL INDICATOR FORTELESCOPIC SIGHTS,” the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of firearms, andmore particularly, to anti-cant devices for telescopic sights.

Telescopic sights, commonly known as “scopes,” are often attached to ormounted on firearms to facilitate aiming of a projectile in a variety ofshooting applications, including long range precision rifle shooting. Akey factor that affects the ability of a shooter to hit a target withaccuracy at long range is cant error. Cant error occurs when the shooterdoes not hold a rifle level (i.e., perfectly vertical or “plumb”) whileshooting. A rifle is level when the axis of the rifle barrel bore is ina vertical plane with the axis of the scope. For example, rotating thebarrel axis out of the vertical plane around the axis of the scope ineither a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction will result in canterror. Canting (i.e., tilting) the firearm to either side results in aprojectile impact that is lower than and horizontally displaced from thepoint of aim. Maintaining the rifle in a perfectly vertical (i.e.,level) position while shooting is thus critical to accurate long rangeshot placement.

Most modern rifle scopes contain a reticle in the form of crosshairs.Crosshairs are most commonly represented as intersecting vertical andhorizontal lines in the shape of a cross (e.g., “+”). Crosshairs can aida shooter in maintaining a rifle in a level position during shooting byallowing the shooter to compare the vertical or horizontal crosshair toa corresponding visual reference object or structure that is visiblethrough the scope and known to be vertical (e.g., a building) orhorizontal (e.g., the horizon). However, in many circumstances, a goodvertical or horizontal visual reference is not available, and theshooter can only estimate the vertical plane. This can introduce canterror into shot placement. It has therefore become common to employ ananti-cant device to more precisely identify the vertical plane andthereby ensure that a firearm remains level during shooting.

Numerous anti-cant devices are known. Some are designed to detachablyattach to a rail of the firearm, as exemplified by the level indicatordisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,578,402, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Others, such as the levelsindicators disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,819,985 and 9,103,630, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety,detachably attach directly to the scope.

The scope-mounted anti-cant devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,819,985 and 9,103,630 include half round collars or straps with twofasteners at one strap end and a uniaxial cylinder and socket connectionor joint at the other strap end to connect the respective strap ends andthereby mount the devices on a scope. The joints permit only a singledegree of freedom, namely, sliding movement along the axis of the maleportion of the joint. These anti-cant devices can only be installed on ascope by separately placing each of the two straps on opposing sides ofthe scope (e.g., the top and bottom) with one strap adjacent to andforward of the other, then axially sliding the straps together along thelongitudinal axis of the scope to place the male portion inside thefemale portion and thus connect the jointed ends of the straps. Theseaxially slidable joints are neither rotatable nor pivotable about themale portion.

This design requires careful alignment of each strap relative to theother and enough free space along the longitudinal axis or length of ascope to permit a user to place the two halves of the device on thescope and perform the required axial sliding maneuver to join themaround the scope. The free space required is necessarily greater thanthe width of either strap since one must be placed forward of the otherbefore they can be axially joined. This limits the number of additionalscope accessories and devices (e.g., lights, lasers, other opticaldevices) that may be mounted to or installed on the scope. No anti-cantdevice requiring no more free space along the length of the scope forinstallation than the width or thickness of the anti-cant device itselfis presently known.

In addition, when mounted on a scope, the anti-cant devices of U.S. Pat.Nos. 8,819,985 and 9,103,630 can transmit force generated by tighteningthe fasteners radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the scopethrough the male and female jointed ends of the straps. This requiresthe straps to be relatively wide in order to strengthen the joint andmaintain joint engagement. The use of such wide straps in turnnecessitates the use of multiple fasteners to tightly secure the strapends opposite the joint, despite that the use of multiple fastenerscomplicates installation and increases the risk that one or all of thefasteners can be dropped, misplaced, or lost during installation.

Accordingly, what is needed are improvements in anti-cant devices andlevel indicators for telescopic sights.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

Features of the presently disclosed invention overcome or minimize someor all of the identified deficiencies of the prior art, as will becomeevident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of theinformation presented in this document.

Disclosed herein is a level indicator for a telescopic sight thatincludes a pair of hingedly engageable, arcuate lower and upper clampmembers. When hingedly engaged via a uniquely shaped and angledcylindrical joint, the upper clamp member is rotatable relative to thelower clamp member to form a gap through which a telescopic sight isreceivable into a spaced defined between opposing arcuate surfaces ofthe respective clamp members.

Installation of the level indicator requires no more space along thelength of the telescopic sight than the width of either clamp memberbecause the indicator can be placed an open configuration and positioneddirectly onto the sight. No axial sliding movement of level indicatorcomponents along the sight is required. A single threaded fastenerselectably secures the two clamp members together around the telescopicsight. A female portion of the cylindrical joint pulls verticallyagainst a male portion of the joint to tightly lock the male and femaleends of the respective clamp members together as the threaded fasteneris tightened in the opposite ends of the clamp members.

The level indicator is also provided with a skeletonized level housingwhich includes opposing upwardly extending lobes that suspend the levelabove a reflective arm in order to maximize ambient light refraction foroptimal level fluid illumination and sight acquisition in all conditionsand environments.

Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the presentdisclosure will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon areview of the following drawings and description of a preferredembodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with referenceto the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeparts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified. In thedrawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, forthe sake of clarity.

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a level indicator fortelescopic sights shown installed on a telescopic sight mounted to arifle.

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the objects of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevated front perspective view of the level indicator ofFIG. 1 showing the level indicator in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a depressed rear perspective view of the level indicator ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the level indicator of FIG. 3, theback side being a being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 6 is a right-side elevational view of the level indicator of FIG.3.

FIG. 7 is a left-side elevational view of the level indicator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the level indicator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the level indicator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a depressed rear perspective view of the level indicator ofFIG. 3 showing the level indicator in an open position.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the level indicator of FIG. 10,the back side being a being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 12 is another elevated front perspective view of the levelindicator of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the level indicator of FIG.3.

FIG. 14 is another exploded perspective view of the level indicator ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the objects of FIG. 2taken along line 15-15 depicting a step of installation of the levelindicator on the telescopic sight.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the objects of FIG. 15 depictinganother step of installation of the level indicator on the telescopicsight.

FIG. 17 is another cross-sectional view of the objects of FIG. 15depicting another step of installation of the level indicator on thetelescopic sight.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 17 at location 18.

FIG. 19 is yet another cross-sectional view of the objects of FIG. 15depicting another step of installation of the level indicator on thetelescopic sight.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 19 at location 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatare embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerousequivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Suchequivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention andare covered by the claims.

To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, anumber of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein havemeanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in theportions relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and“the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but ratherinclude the general class of which a specific example may be used forillustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specificembodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit theinvention, except as set forth in the claims.

This description and appended claims include the words “below”, “above”,“over,” “under,” “side”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “when”,“vertical”, “horizontal”, “upright”, etc. to provide an orientation ofembodiments of the invention to allow for proper description of exampleembodiments. The foregoing positional terms refer to the assembly whenin the orientation shown in FIG. 5. A person of skill in the art willrecognize that the assembly can assume different orientations when inuse.

Similarly, an “upright” position as described herein is considered to bethe position of the apparatus or assembly components while in properoperation or in a natural resting position as described and shownherein, for example, in FIG. 5. It is also contemplated that embodimentsof the invention may be in orientations other than upright withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims. Further, the terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and“under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesserthan” and are not intended to imply that one object or component isdirectly over or under another object or component, unless specificallyindicated to the contrary. The term “when” is used to specifyorientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporallimitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed hereinunless otherwise specified.

The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarilyrefer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language usedherein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and thelike, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certainfeatures, elements and/or states.

All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can beperformed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied tothe contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

As used herein, the term “about,” when referring to a value or to aphysical dimension (e.g., length, width, angle, or diameter), is meantto encompass variations of in some embodiments +−40% or more, in someembodiments +−20%, in some embodiments +−10%, in some embodiments +−5%,in some embodiments +−1%, in some embodiments +−0.5%, and in someembodiments +−0.1% from the specified value, as such variations areappropriate to perform the disclosed methods.

As used herein, ranges can be expressed as from “about” one particularvalue, and/or to “about” another particular value. It is also understoodthat there are a number of values disclosed herein, and that each valueis also herein disclosed as “about” that particular value in addition tothe value itself. For example, if the value “10” is disclosed, then“about 10” is also disclosed. It is also understood that each unitbetween two particular units are also disclosed. For example, if 10 and15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

The methods and devices disclosed herein, including components thereof,can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essentialelements and limitations of the embodiments described herein, as well asany additional or optional components or limitations described herein orotherwise useful.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-2, there is shown a telescopic sight(i.e., scope) 1 mounted to a firearm in the form of a rifle 3. Thetelescopic sight 1 is mounted to the rifle 3 via a scope mount 5. Thescope mount 5 spaces the outer surface of the telescopic sight 1 adistance 7 from the adjacent surface of the rifle 3 and maintains theaxis 9 of the scope parallel to the axis 11 of the bore of the riflebarrel. The telescopic sight 1 includes an objective bell 13, an eyebell 15, a tubular portion 17 having a diameter 19, and multipleadjustment knobs 21 or turrets. An embodiment of a level indicator 10for a telescopic sight is shown detachably attached to the telescopicsight 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-14, a level indicator 10 for a telescopic sight1 includes a half round or semi-annular lower clamp member 12, and acorresponding half round or semi-annular upper clamp member 14configured to be hingedly engaged with the lower clamp 12 member at oneend. A threaded fastener 16 receivable in the lower clamp 12 memberthrough the upper clamp member 14 releasably secures the opposite endsof the clamp members 12, 14 together when the clamp members are hingedlyengaged and positioned around the tubular portion 17 of the telescopicsight 1. A level housing 18 in which a level 20 is removably receivedextends from the upper clamp member 14. The level housing 18 canalternatively extend from the lower clamp member 12. The level 20 isreleasably secured in the level housing 18 by a retaining ring 22, whichcan alternatively be a set screw, an adhesive, a press fit, or otherretaining means. When detachably attached to a telescopic sight 1 asdisclosed herein, the level indicator 10 can be used to vertically alignthe axis 9 of the telescopic sight 1 with the axis of the rifle barrelbore 11 and thereby reduce or eliminate the occurrence of cant errorduring aiming and shooting of the rifle 3.

The level 20 is depicted in the figures as a tubular spirit level(widely known as a “bubble level”) comprising a transparent, veryslightly curved tubular vial incompletely filled with a liquid so as toform within the vial a gravity driven bubble 24 which when centeredbetween two parallel vertical marks 26 or lines on the vial 20,indicates that the level 20 is flat (i.e., parallel to a horizontalreference plane which is perpendicular to true vertical) and thus thatthe rifle 3 to which the level indicator 10 is detachably attached isperfectly vertical or plumb. In other embodiments, the level 10 can bean electronic device with lights and/or audio tones to indicate when thelevel is parallel to the horizontal reference plane and thus when theaxis 9 of the telescopic sight 1 is vertically aligned with the axis ofthe rifle barrel bore 11.

The level housing 18 includes an upwardly extending proximal lobe 28, anupwardly extending distal lobe 30, and an arm 32 extending horizontallyfrom a bottom of the proximal lobe 28 to a bottom of the distal lobe 30.The proximal lobe 28 defines a first cylindrical cavity 34 in which afirst end of the level 20 is receivable. The distal lobe 30 defines asecond cylindrical cavity 36 in which a second end of the level 20 isreceivable. The first and second cavities 34, 36 have a uniform diameterand are axially aligned over the arm 32. An upper surface 38 of the arm32 extending between the proximal and distal lobes 28, 30 is recessedfrom a horizontal reference plane 40 tangent to the bottom of the firstand second cavities 34, 36 such that the upper surface 38 of the arm 32is spaced below a bottom of the level 20 when the first and second endsof the level 20 are received in the respective first and secondcylindrical cavities 34, 36. In this way, the proximal and distal lobes28, 30 suspend the level 20 a distance above the upper surface 38 of thearm 32 when the first and second ends of the level 20 are received inthe respective first and second cylindrical cavities 34, 36. This allowsdramatically more ambient light to enter the vial 20 than conventionallevels in which the vial is typically received against or recessedinside a portion of the level housing in order to protect the level fromexposure to and accumulation of dirt and grime.

In addition, the arm 32 of the level housing 18 has a width 42 which isless than a diameter 44 of the level vial 20, which allows even moreambient light to enter the vial from a wider angle around thecircumference of the vial. In some embodiments, the upper surface 38 ofthe arm 32 can define a shallow elongated channel 46 below the vial 20.A strip of reflective material 47 can be received in the channel 48 inorder to reflect still more ambient light into the vial 20. This evenfurther increases the amount of ambient light which enters the vial andilluminates the bubble 24 against the indicator marks 26. As such, alevel indicator 10 which includes the level housing 18 disclosed hereinprovides a shooter with maximum light refraction for optimal level fluidillumination and sight acquisition in all conditions and environments.

Each clamp member 12, 14 has a width 50, a thickness, and an arcuateinner surface, 54, 56 respectively. The width 50 of each clamp membercan be the same or different, as can the thickness 52 of each clampmember. In the exemplar embodiment depicted in the figures, each clampmember 12, 14 has the same width 50. In order to minimize the portion ofthe length of the telescopic sight 1 that is required to attached thelevel indicator 10, the width 50 of the clamp members 12, 14 is lessthan the width of each of the level housing 18 and the level 20 itself.By contrast, for reasons noted above, the straps forming each half ofcurrently available level indicators tend to have a width which is widerthan that of the level. When the clamp members 12, 14 are assembled asdescribed herein, the opposing arcuate inner surfaces 54, 56 definebetween them a space 55 in which the tubular portion 17 of thetelescopic sight 1 is receivable. The space 55 can be sized to have adiameter which is slightly less than the diameter 19 of the tubularportion 17 of the telescopic sight 1 in order to ensure that the levelindicator 10 fits snugly around the telescopic sight 1 when the levelindicator 10 is detachably attached to the sight 1.

The lower clamp member 12 includes a first end 58 and a second end 60.The first end 58 of the lower clamp 12 member has a maximum thickness 52which is less than the distance 7 that the telescopic sight 1 is spacedfrom the rifle 3 by the scope mount 5. This allows a user to install alevel indicator 10 of the present invention onto a telescopic sight 1which is already mounted to a rifle 3 without first removing the sight 1from the rifle 3 (as described in more detail below). A threadedaperture 62 sized and shaped to threadingly receive the threadedfastener 16 is formed in the first end 58. The second end 60 defines anarrow neck 64 having a thickness 66 and a cylindrical joint head 68protruding from the neck 64. The joint head 68 has a diameter 70 and anaxis 72. The thickness 70 of the neck 64 is less than the diameter 70 ofthe cylindrical joint head 68. The neck 64 extends at an angle from aterminal end or shoulder 74 of the second end 60 to a side of thecylindrical head 68 distal to the first end 58 of the lower clamp member12. Put differently, the neck 64 extends from the shoulder 74 to a sideof the cylindrical head 68 opposite the first end 58 of the lower clampmember 12. The neck 64 extends from the shoulder 74 back toward thefirst end 58 of the lower clamp member 12 at an angle to an adjacentexterior surface 76 of the second end 60 of the lower clamp member 12.In some embodiments, the angle can be an obtuse angle. In otherembodiments, the angle can be an acute angle. In one embodiment, theneck 64 extends back toward the first end 58 of the lower clamp member12 at an angle substantially normal to exterior surface 76, as mostclearly exemplified in FIG. 5. The neck 64 can form an angle with theexterior circumferential surface 76 of the second end 60 of the lowerclamp member 12 of from about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees. Forreference, the portion of neck 64 used to determine the angle formedwith exterior surface 76 is the side of the neck 64 distal to arcuateinner surface 54.

The upper clamp member 14 includes a first end 78 and a second end 80. Acounterbored access hole 82 through which the threaded portion of thethreaded fastener 16 can pass is defined in the first end 78. A socket84 in which the cylindrical joint head 68 is rotatably receivable isdefined in the second end 80. When the cylindrical head 68 of the lowerclamp member 12 is received in the socket 84 of the upper clamp member14, the respective second ends 60, 80 of the clamp members 12, 14 form acylindrical joint with two degrees of freedom. This permits thecylindrical head 68 to be rotated within the socket 84 about the axis 72of the cylindrical head 68 and translated (i.e., slide) laterally in andout of the socket 84 along the axis 72. As such, when the cylindricalhead 68 is received in the socket 84, the upper clamp member 14 isrotatable about the cylindrical head 68 between a closed position (see,e.g., FIGS. 5-9) and an open position (see, e.g., FIGS. 10-12).

The male 68 and female portions 84 of the cylindrical joint (i.e., thecylindrical head 68 and the socket 84, respectively) are shaped andsized so that the upper clamp member 14 can be rotated about thecylindrical head 68 so that a distance 85 formed between the respectivefirst ends 58, 78 of the upper and lower clamp members 12, 14 is greaterthan the diameter 19 of the tubular portion 17 of the telescopic sight 1when the level indicator 10 is in an open position. As such, the upperclamp member 14 is rotatable about the cylindrical head 68 to formbetween the respective first ends 58, 78 of the clamp members 12, 14 agap 85 through which the tubular portion 17 of the telescopic sight 1 isreceivable into the space 55 between opposing arcuate surfaces 54, 56.In this way, the telescopic sight 1 is receivable in the space 55through the gap 85 formed between the respective first ends 58, 78 ofthe clamp members 12, 14 when the level indicator 10 is placed in anopen position.

In order to form a gap 85 that is large enough to accept the telescopicsight 1 therethrough, the cylindrical head 68, neck 64, and the socket84 are shaped and angled so as to permit the upper clamp member 14 torotate at least 45 degrees around the cylindrical head 68 when movedfrom the closed position to the open position. In some embodiments, thecylindrical head 68, neck 64, and the socket 84 can be shaped and angledso as to permit the upper clamp member 14 to rotate from about 45degrees to about 90 degrees or more around the cylindrical head 68. Forexample, the level indicator 10 can be configured to form between therespective first ends 58, 78 of the clamp members 12, 14 and the axis 72of the cylindrical head 68 an interior angle 86 of from about 45 toabout 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the interior angle 86 can beabout 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, or 85 degrees.

The level indicator 10 is also configured to limit rotation of the upperclamp member 14 about the cylindrical head 68 of the lower clamp member12. For example, the second end 60 of the lower clamp member 12 define aprotruding shoulder 74 while the second end 80 of the upper clamp member14 defines a protrusion which can take the form of a chine 88. Theprotrusion or chine 88 can partially define an upper portion of thesocket 84, as best shown in FIG. 5. The protrusion or chine 88 can besized and shaped to contact the neck 64 or shoulder 74 of the lowerclamp member 12 and thereby limit rotation of the upper clamp member 14about the cylindrical head 68. Limiting the rotation of the upper clampmember 14 relative to the lower clamp member 12 advantageously preventsthe two clamp members 12, 14 from becoming separated during installationby preventing the upper clamp member 14 from rotating off of the back ofthe cylindrical head 68. In some embodiments, the chine 88 can limitrotation of the upper clamp member 14 relative to the lower clamp member12 to from about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees. In some embodiments,the chine 88 can limit rotation of the upper clamp member 14 relative tothe lower clamp member 12 to about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, or 85degrees. In this way, the socket 84 can function as a constraint on thecylindrical joint.

As noted above, some currently available level indicators requiremultiple fasteners and relatively wider collars or straps in order tosecurely attach to a telescopic sight, and undesirably distributeclamping force radially outward through their jointed ends. The levelindicator 10 of the present invention, by contrast, is advantageouslydesigned so that only a single threaded fastener 16 is needed toreleasably secure the two clamp members 12, 14 together around atelescopic sight 1. Specifically, the level indicator 10 of the presentinvention advantageously incorporates a cylindrical joint with uniquegeometry designed to secure the respective second ends 60, 80 of theclamp members 12, 14 together and vertically distribute force when therespective first ends 58, 78 of the clamp members 12, 14 are securedtogether by a single threaded fastener 16.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3-14, the second end 80 of the upperclamp member 14 defines an upwardly extending arcuate tooth 90, whilethe second end 60 of the lower clamp member 12 defines a complimentaryupwardly extending arcuate recess 92 in which the tooth 90 isreceivable. The tooth 90 and recess 92 are shaped and sized to enablethe tooth 90 to cam upwardly into the recess 92 around a bottom of thecylindrical head 68 so as to lock the second end 80 of the upper clampmember 14 to the second end 60 of the lower clamp member 12 when thelevel indicator 10 is attached to a telescopic sight 1.

Specifically, the tooth 90 extends upwardly from the second end 80 ofthe upper clamp member 14 in a direction away from the first end 78 ofthe upper clamp member 14 such that an upper surface of the toothdefines a bottom surface of the socket. Conversely, a bottom of thecylindrical head 68 partially defines the recess 92 such that the recess92 extends around the bottom of the cylindrical head 68 and above ahorizontal reference plane 94 tangent to the bottom of the cylindricalhead 68. The terminal end (i.e., back end) of the recess 92 is locatedabove the plane 94 and is partially defined by a surface of the neck 64located above the plane. As such, the tip of the tooth 90 extends uparound the bottom of the cylindrical head 68 and above the plane 94 whenthe tooth 90 engages the recess 92 to lock the respective second ends60, 80 of the clamp members 12, 14 together around the telescopic sight1 when the threaded fastener 16 is received in the first ends 58, 78.

The threaded fastener 16 is threadingly receivable in the threadedaperture 62 through the access hole 82 to secure the first end 78 ofupper clamp member 14 to the first end 58 of the lower clamp member 12around the tubular portion 17 of the telescopic sight 1 when telescopicsight 1 is received in the space 55 between the clamp members 12, 14.Because the diameter of the space 55 is smaller than the diameter 19 ofthe telescopic sight 1, tightening of the threaded fastener 16 in thethreaded aperture 62 causes the upper clamp member 14 to slide aroundthe circumference of the telescopic sight 1 (i.e., transverse to axis9), which in turn causes the tooth 90 to cam around the bottom of thecylindrical head 68 up into the recess 92. This causes the tip of thetooth 90 to apply an upwardly (as opposed to an radially outward) forceto a side of the cylindrical head 68 opposite the telescopic sight 1,which tightly locks the respective second ends 60, 80 of the clampmembers 12, 14 together without the need for multiple threaded fastenersin both ends of the clamp members or the wider clamp members found inconventional level indicators.

FIGS. 15-20 depict one embodiment of a method of installing a levelindicator 10 of the present invention on a telescopic sight 1 mounted toa rifle 3. Unlike currently available level indicators, a levelindicator 10 of the present invention is designed to be assembled beforeit is installed on a telescopic sight 1 so a user can quickly and easilyposition the assembled level indicator 10 on and secure it to thetelescopic sight 1 with only two fingers of one hand.

For example, the level indicator 10 can be assembled by placing thecylindrical head 68 of the lower clamp member 12 inside the socket 84 ofthe upper clamp member 14 and placing the threaded fastener 16 in thecounterbored access hole 82, as best shown in FIG. 15. The first ends58, 78 of the respective clamp members 12, 14 can be separated (eitherbefore or after the cylindrical head 68 is placed inside the socket 84)to form the gap 85 through which the telescopic sight 1 is receivableinto the space 55 between the upper 14 and lower 12 clamp members.

The upper 14 and lower 12 clamp members are then positioned around thetelescopic sight 1 such that the telescopic sight is received in thespace 55 between the arcuate surfaces 54, 56 of the lower 12 and upper14 clamp members through the gap 85. This can be accomplished byinserting the first end 58 of the lower clamp member 12 between thetelescopic sight 1 and the scope mount 5, or between the telescopicsight 1 and the upper surface of the rifle 3 (according to userpreference), and rotating the first end 78 of the upper clamp member 14about the cylindrical head 68 toward the first end 58 of the lower clampmember 12 to substantially close the gap 85 and place the clamp members12, 14 in the closed position, as sequentially shown in FIGS. 15-17. Thegap 85 is substantially closed and clamp members 12, 14 are in theclosed position when the respective inner arcuate surfaces 54, 56contact the tubular portion 17 of the telescopic sight 1 as best shownin FIG. 17. Notably, the respective first ends 58, 78 of the clampmembers do not have to touch and can remained slightly spaced apart evenwhen the gap 85 is substantially closed. At the same time, a small spacecan also exist between the tip of the tooth 90 and the back of therecess 92, as shown in FIG. 18.

Once the clamp members 12, 14 are in the closed position, the threadedfastener 16 can be threaded into the threaded aperture 62 through theaccess hole 82 to secure the upper clamp member 14 to the lower clampmember 12 around the telescopic sight 1, as shown in FIG. 19. Threading(i.e., tightening) the threaded fastener 16 further into the threadedaperture 62 shrinks the space between the respective first ends 58, 78of the clamp members, and causes the tooth 90 to cam further up aroundthe bottom of the cylindrical head 68 into the recess 92 to fully engagethe back of the recess 92 as shown in FIG. 20 and previously described.This releasably locks the respective second ends 60, 80 of the clampmembers 12, 14 together. Installation of a level indicator 10 of thepresent invention thus requires no more space along the length of thetelescopic sight 1 than the width 50 of either clamp member 12, 14, instark contrast to conventional level indicators with joints having onlya single degree of freedom (i.e., joints that require axial slidingassembly of components along a telescopic sight).

The level indicator 10 can be detached from the telescopic sight 1 bybacking the threaded fastener 16 out of the threaded aperture 62,rotating the upper clamp member 14 off of the telescopic sight 1 toseparate the respective first ends 58, 78 of the clamp members 12, 14and form the gap 85, and withdrawing the clamp members 12, 14 out fromaround the sight 1.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described indetail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example,all components and features of the present invention described asconnected to, extending from, or forming a part of the upper clampmember can in other embodiments be connected to, extend from, or form apart of the lower clamp member. Conversely, all components and featuresof the present invention described as connected to, extending from, orforming a part of the lower clamp member can in other embodiments beconnected to, extend from, or form a part of the upper clamp member.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention andalso to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention,including making and using any devices or systems and performing anyincorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is definedby the claims, and may include other examples that occur to thoseskilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within thescope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differfrom the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalentstructural elements with insubstantial differences from the literallanguages of the claims.

It will be understood that the particular embodiments described hereinare shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of theinvention. The principal features of this invention may be employed invarious embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalentsto the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents areconsidered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered bythe claims.

All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein maybe made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this inventionhave been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may beapplied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in thesequence of steps of the method described herein without departing fromthe concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similarsubstitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art aredeemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it is not intended that such references be construedas limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A level indicator for a telescopic sight,comprising: a lower clamp member including a first end defining athreaded aperture and a second end defining a cylindrical head; an upperclamp member including a first end defining an access hole and a secondend defining a socket in which the cylindrical head is receivable,wherein the upper clamp member is rotatable at least 45 degrees aboutthe cylindrical head when the cylindrical head is received in the socketto form between the respective first ends of the upper and lower clampmembers a gap through which the telescopic sight is receivable betweenthe upper and lower clamp members; a level housing extending from theupper or lower clamp member; a level received in the level housing; anda threaded fastener receivable in the threaded aperture through theaccess hole to secure the upper clamp member to the lower clamp memberaround the telescopic sight when the telescopic sight is receivedbetween the upper and lower clamp members and the cylindrical head isreceived in the socket.
 2. The level indicator of claim 1, wherein: theupper and lower clamp members include opposing arcuate surfaces whichdefine a space therebetween; the telescopic sight is receivable in thespace through the gap; and the threaded fastener is receivable in thethreaded aperture through the access hole to secure the upper clampmember to the lower clamp member around the telescopic sight when thetelescopic sight is received in the space.
 3. The level indicator ofclaim 1, wherein: the lower clamp member has a width; the telescopicsight has a length; a portion of the length of the telescopic sight isrequired to mount the level indicator on the telescopic sight; and theportion of the length of the telescopic sight required to mount thelevel indicator on the telescopic sight is no greater than the width ofthe lower clamp member.
 4. The level indicator of claim 1, wherein theupper clamp member is rotatable no more than 90 degrees about thecylindrical head.
 5. The level indicator of claim 1, wherein: the secondend of the lower clamp member defines a neck from which the cylindricalhead protrudes; the neck has a thickness that is less than a diameter ofthe cylindrical head; and the neck protrudes from the second end of thelower clamp member at an angle substantially normal to an adjacentexterior surface of the second end of the lower clamp member.
 6. Thelevel indicator of claim 5, wherein: the second end of the upper clampmember defines a chine; and the chine contacts the neck to limitrotation of the upper clamp member about the cylindrical head to 90degrees or less.
 7. The level indicator of claim 6, wherein: the neckextends between the second end of the lower clamp member and a side ofthe cylindrical head distal to the first end of the lower clamp member;and the chine partially defines an upper portion of the socket.
 8. Thelevel indicator of claim 1, wherein: the second end of the upper clampmember defines a tooth; the second end of the lower clamp member definesa recess below the cylindrical head in which the tooth is receivable;and the tooth cams up around a bottom of the cylindrical head into therecess to lock the second end of the upper clamp member to the secondend of the lower clamp member when the telescopic sight is receivedbetween the upper and lower clamp members, the cylindrical head isreceived in the socket, and the threaded fastener is received in thethreaded aperture through the access hole.
 9. The level indicator ofclaim 8, wherein: an upper surface of the tooth defines a bottom surfaceof the socket; the bottom of the cylindrical head partially defines therecess; and the recess extends around the bottom of the cylindrical headabove a horizontal plane tangent to the bottom of the cylindrical head.10. The level indicator of claim 9, wherein the tooth extends upwardlyfrom the second end of the upper clamp member in a direction away fromthe first end of the upper clamp member when the telescopic sight isreceived between the upper and lower clamp members, the cylindrical headis received in the socket, and the threaded fastener is received in thethreaded aperture through the access hole.
 11. A method for mounting alevel indicator on a telescopic sight attached to a firearm, comprising:providing a level indicator of claim 1; placing the cylindrical head inthe socket; separating the respective first ends of the upper and lowerclamp members to form the gap through which the telescopic sight isreceivable between the upper and lower clamp members; positioning theupper and lower clamp members around the telescopic sight such that thetelescopic sight is received between the upper and lower clamp membersthrough the gap; rotating the upper clamp member about the cylindricalhead to substantially close the gap between the respective first ends ofthe upper and lower clamp members; and threading the threaded fastenerinto the threaded aperture through the access hole to secure the upperclamp member to the lower clamp member around the telescopic sight. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein: positioning the upper and lower clampmembers around the telescopic sight includes positioning the lower clampmember between the telescopic sight and the firearm such that an arcuatesurface of the lower clamp member is proximate to or received againstthe telescopic sight; and rotating the upper clamp member is rotatingthe upper clamp member toward the lower clamp member until an arcuatesurface of the upper clamp member is received against the telescopicsight.
 13. A level indicator for a telescopic sight, comprising: a firstclamp member including a first end and a second end; a second clampmember including a first end and a second end, wherein the second end ofthe second clamp member is hingedly engageable with the second end ofthe first clamp member such that the respective first ends of the firstand second clamp members can be separated and positioned around thetelescopic sight when the respective second ends of the first and secondclamp members are hingedly engaged; a level housing extending from thefirst or the second clamp member; a level received in the level housing;and a threaded fastener receivable in the first end of the first clampmember through the first end of the second clamp member to secure thesecond clamp member to the first clamp member around the telescopicsight when the second end of the second clamp member is hingedly engagedwith the second end of the first clamp member and the first and secondclamp members are positioned around the telescopic sight wherein thesecond clamp member is rotatable with respect to the first clamp memberby at least 45 degrees when the respective second ends of the first andsecond clamp members are hingedly engaged.
 14. The level indicator ofclaim 13, wherein: the first end of the first clamp member defines athreaded aperture: the second end of the first clamp member defines acylindrical head; the first end of the second clamp member defines anaccess hole; the second end of the second clamp member defines a socketin which the cylindrical head is receivable; and the second clamp memberis rotatable about the cylindrical head to form between the respectivefirst ends of the clamp members a gap through which the telescopic sightis receivable between the first and second clamp members.
 15. The levelindicator of claim 13, wherein: the second end of the first clamp memberdefines a neck from which the cylindrical head protrudes; the second endof the second clamp member defines a chine; and the chine is receivableagainst the neck to limit rotation of the second clamp member relativeto the first clamp member.
 16. The level indicator of claim 13, wherein:the second end of the second clamp member defines an upwardly extendingtooth; the second end of the first clamp member defines an upwardlyextending recess in which the tooth is receivable; the recess extendsabove a plane tangent to a bottom of the cylindrical head; and the toothengages the recess to lock the second end of the second clamp member tothe second end of the first clamp member when the telescopic sight isreceived between the upper and lower clamp members, the cylindrical headis received in the socket, and the threaded fastener is received in thethreaded aperture through the access hole.
 17. A level indicator for atelescopic sight, comprising: a lower clamp member including a first enddefining a threaded aperture and a second end defining a cylindricalhead a recess below the cylindrical head, and a neck on which thecylindrical head is formed; an upper clamp member including a first enddefining an access hole and a second end defining a socket in which thecylindrical head is rotatably receivable and a tooth below the socket; alevel housing extending from the upper or lower clamp member; a levelreceived in the level housing; and a threaded fastener receivable in thethreaded aperture through the access hole to secure the first end of theupper clamp member to the first end of the lower clamp member; wherein:the tooth cams upward into the recess around a bottom of the cylindricalhead to lock the second end of the upper clamp member to the second endof the lower clamp member when the telescopic sight is received betweenthe upper and lower clamp members, the cylindrical head is received inthe socket, and the threaded fastener is received in the threadedaperture through the access hole the neck extends from the second end ofthe lower clamp member at an angle of from about 80 to about 100 degreesrelative to an adjacent surface of the lower clamp member; and therecess extends around the cylindrical head and above a horizontal planetangent to the bottom of the cylindrical head.